By Kazeem Ugbodaga
Etihad Stadium was turned into a theatre of shock and spectacle on Saturday afternoon as Manchester City delivered a jaw-dropping comeback, annihilating Crystal Palace 5-2 after going two goals down inside 21 minutes.
Palace looked like they were scripting an upset of the season when Eberechi Eze struck early in the 8th minute, lashing home a pinpoint pass from Ismaila Sarr to stun the home crowd.
It got worse for the champions just 13 minutes later as Chris Richards rose high to power in a bullet header from a corner, sending Palace into dreamland at 2-0.
The Etihad was momentarily silenced — but not for long.
The response was brutal. Kevin De Bruyne, the orchestrator-in-chief, pulled one back in the 33rd minute with a masterful free kick that ricocheted in off the post.
Just three minutes later, Omar Marmoush found himself at the right place at the right time, pouncing on a loose ball to level the score 2-2 — and City never looked back.
Palace thought they had a third before the break when Eze found the net again, but the linesman’s flag cut short the celebrations, ruling it out for offside in what will surely be a moment of controversy.
Then came the second-half demolition.
Just two minutes into the restart, Mateo Kovacic unleashed a thunderbolt from outside the box that rocketed into the bottom corner — a goal of pure venom to put City ahead for the first time in the match.
James McAtee made it 4-2 in the 56th minute after Ederson turned provider with a delicious long pass, and by the 79th minute, teenager Nico O’Reilly sealed the rout. His deflected effort wrong-footed Henderson and nestled into the back of the net as City fans erupted.
